Real Madrid move with dignity. Being the world's largest football club necessitates some of the most impressive shows of professionalism and sportsmanship. And Los Blancos have been following it for a long time.
But then there's RMTV, Real Madrid's media outlet, which is renowned for dipping well below these norms. The channel has done a lot of weird things in the past, and I'm honestly not sure how some broadcasts are ever permitted to air.
RMTV is notorious for targeting Spanish referees on a weekly basis for alleged "mistakes" that have given several blows to the Merengues. But this time, things may have gone too far, even by Real Madrid's standards.
RMTV broadcast a video that was too much, too early
As soon as the Spanish referee De Burgos Bengoetxea was confirmed to be the referee for the Copa Del Rey final versus Barcelona, Real Madrid went all in with an RMTV video showcasing the official's faults in previous games with Los Blancos.
The truth is that De Burgos does not have a good track record when it comes to officiating Real Madrid games. The referee committed various blunders and made generally incorrect decisions. However, this is not a scenario that just affects Real Madrid, nor is it limited to De Burgos. He is also the same referee who sent Vinicius Jr off for reacting to racist abuses.
It is critical to recognize that officiating a high-level football match is the most difficult job in contemporary sports environment. The strain is great, and the consequences of a single human error are devastating. But something about this moral learning didn't set right with RMTV.
Even before the Copa Del Rey final, RMTV criticised De Burgos and his ways. This was not only inappropriate, but also juvenile and immature. Targeting a referee for honest mistakes and comparing Real Madrid's and Barcelona's victory percentages under him makes no logic, especially for a team with such high standards.
De Burgos addressed the subject during the referee press conference prior to the final and burst into tears. The referee became emotional because of the implications that referees face on a daily basis as a result of the human faults that they are prone to.
De Burgos said, "When a son goes to school and is told his father is a thief, that's really tough. All I'm trying to do is educate my son so he knows his father is honest, to teach him what refereeing is, so everyone can reflect on where we want to go. I'd like you all to know; it's very hard."
He continued to say, "The truth is, I don't care what videos they make. They'll see. I know what I need to improve and what I have to do, that's about it."
The VAR official González Fuertes also came in support of De Burgos in the conference and hinted at something different and big. He said, "We are not going to continue to put up with what we are putting up with. There is no doubt that we are going to have to start taking much more serious measures than those that are being taken. We are not going to continue to allow what is happening. In a short time, you will have news. We are going to make history, because we are not going to continue to put up with what we are putting up with."
Though a child's bullying was not directly caused by what RMTV did, they were undoubtedly participants in the milieu that continuously subjected referees to absurdly high scrutiny, demanding mechanical perfection from them.
However, the VAR official's statements are as inappropriate. His comment about the final seems almost frightening. Yes, their concerns and emotions are valid, yet the statement does not sound nice to be honest.